STW buys into research firm Colmar Brunton

One of Australia’s largest independent market research houses Colmar Brunton has become part of the STW Group.

Colmar Brunton has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide.

According to the announcement, STW has taken a majority stake in the business, which employs more than 120 people.

STW’s CEO Michael Connaghan said in the announcement: “We recognise that market research is a strong and substantial part of the marketing communications discipline, and while we already have broad capabilities in the sector, Colmar Brunton will add further weight to our offering in several specific areas.

“The business has an incredible pedigree in the FMCG and Government sectors in particular, and includes one of the country’s largest field suppliers, ‘Your Source’. Coupled with established product testing facilities, Colmar Brunton is an outstanding and growing business that fits well within STW’s future growth strategies.”

Colmar Brunton chairman John Shanahan said: “Colmar Brunton has reached a stage in its development where it requires a significant partner to take the next step. We chose STW because we share similar values and culture, it has agencies which are creatively focused on the future, and because its business model would encourage us to maintain our independence, to learn and grow.”

STW is Australia’s largest marketing services group with agencies including Ogilvy, TCO, Pulse, Maverick Howorth, The Brand Agency and Ikon. WPP owns a significant share of STW, which is listed on the ASX. It’s share price did not move today, leaving the company with a market capitalisation of more than $600m.